Reading is a fundamental right, yet individuals with Visual Dyslexia face challenges in fully accessing this basic right. When they attempt to read, they experience intense visual stress, causing the text to appear distorted. The cause is their sensitivity to the background light behind the text. Blocking this light with complementary colors is a common approach to improving their reading experience. Tools like color-tinted glasses, lenses, and overlays are being used to reduce visual stress.

However, these existing layers don’t just block disruptive background light—they also obscure elements, such as images and videos, which are integral to the reading experience. While technology is evolving to make life more convenient, it’s troubling that the most basic environment for effective reading is still not available to everyone.

This is why Apple, which believes that 'Technology is most powerful when it empowers everyone,' has created a visual aid tool called Text Layer. We innovated by addressing the common limitations of traditional overlays. Unlike traditional methods that laid the layer prominently over the foreground, Text Layer positions the adaptive layer within the background itself. This allows users to read text clearly without compromising other on-screen elements. Additionally, the background color is precisely optimized for each individual through eye-tracking technology, which analyzes and identifies the color that most effectively reduces visual stress.

Fully integrated across all iOS devices, Text Layer is universally applicable. Furthermore, it extends beyond digital spaces into physical environments, enabling people with visual dyslexia to experience reading as naturally as anyone else. With Text Layer, Apple reaffirms its commitment to creating technology that empowers everyone — because reading should be an unchallenged right for all.